Pacific Ackworth Friends School [recollections]
Googling can be general, cultural, personal. Somehow I finally got around to googling Pacific Ackworth Friends School (Temple City, California) -- the small, well-loved educational institution that (I can say without irony) nurtured me from the age of 5 through 14. There's surprisingly little info about the school online. It's not yet included (for instance) in the Wikipedia roster of Friends Schools.
This overview history of Quaker educational activities includes a brief sketch of PA's origins (under section "Quaker Educational Experiments"):
I'll expand on these reflections a bit, later.
This overview history of Quaker educational activities includes a brief sketch of PA's origins (under section "Quaker Educational Experiments"):
The first educational venture of Western unprogrammed Friends was Pacific Ackworth School. This alternative school was founded in 1942 because Friends felt that children in the public schools were being pressured to support the war. John and Alice Way , along with several other Orange Grove Meeting families, purchased five acres of property in Temple City, California (not far from Pasadena). The Ways moved a house to the property and settled there in early 1942. [etc.]Those five acres were the world for us, for a stretch of years.
I'll expand on these reflections a bit, later.
posted by david raphael israel at 7:14 PM
23 Comments:
I too googled PA and was happy to find this post. I went to school there around 76-78 and spent several summers there afterwards. Most of my positive childhood memories are of PA. Kick the can, ollie ollie oxen free!
I remember Alice, though did not know John. I think Bruce Nauman (famous moden artist) lived on the property with his family, including daughter Maya, and worked as caretaker. My friends come to mind, Alan, Robert, David, Matt, Carla and others as well as my sister Jenny.
May was my first grade teacher and she did not like me much, I was a talker. A wonderful Japanese? woman lived out just beyond the rear property line and spent time with us helping takle czare of injured animals we found.
A wonderful place.
May was my teacher too, only much earlier! As I was learning to read, I encountered someone's name in a book that I couldn't decipher. So I substituted the word 'May', and it seemed to work out pretty well. ow I can read much better. When I was at PA in the mid 1950s, we had a large field with several farm-ish animals. One day school was suspended as we all marched out there to watch the goat give birth. This impressed me mightily as a first grader. When I was older I studied music in Pasadena with Harlow and Elizabeth Mills who were members of that meeting. There was a teacher who's name was something like Roy Foy. He had invented the 'Foy Toy'. I don't know what it was. I lived in Arcadia and graduated from Arcadia High School, and now I'm here! I'm very grateful for my time at PA. Harlan Hokin
I went to PA also from around 1977 until early 1980. I can't thank my parents enough for sending me there. It was a great learning experience and I met friends that I will never forget. May was my teach too and was a great teacher at best. I remember kick the can and all the art classes that I took. What a great chapter that school was in my life time.
Yes, PA was a very special place. I was there in the late 1970s and John Way was my teacher for a while; others included Chloe Winans, who made books of "mandalas" (her granddaughter, Lisa, was a student there too) and a great guy named Malachai(sp?) who taught music. Alice was such a good, good woman. They had a yearly festival - what was it called? - where John would trot out his Model T Ford for Model T rides, and they also did hay rides. Do you remember picking foxtails, and if you picked 1000 or something, you got a prize? I remember a storytelling event where they told a story about "tribbles" or something and brought out a box with lots of little hand-made puff-balls and handed out one "tribble" to each kid. And lots of art projects like sand painting, enamel, woodshop, etc. Does anyone else remember the climbing tree, a big, beautiful pine that was easy to climb way up high? And yes! I remember that woman who lived in a house behind the field in back very well. Her name was Lu Kuboshima and she was a real sweetie. I remember her breaking off a leaf from her aloe plant to treat a minor sunburn.
Wow, this is amazing. I attended PA from the mid 60's to early 70's and I too have incredible long lasting memories. I just visited, what is left of PA, at Thanksgiving and encouraged them to set up some sort of website and a way for folks who attended to be in touch, find out what we are up to. I have wonderful memories of Chloe and Lou Kubashima (her wonderful pickles) the "story tree" which is still on the campus. We participated in the yearly festival to raise money, my mother would dress in a Renaissance costume and sell knishes. I could go on and on. I would love to have a reunion in the very near future!!!
That festival was called the Public Pumpkin Works! A reunion would be great, but I don't know how people could be contacted. Even on classmates.com, there's only a total of 12 people listed who were at PA over 4 decades.
Wow, I can´t believe how difficult it is to find people from my beloved school when facebook and the internet has brought so many people together. I can see that everyone has wonderfull things to say regarding PA. I went to PA from 1982 to 85, as well as my sister and I have the best memories. I remember Alice, and May, though May was not a teacher anymore. Our field trips to the mountain and camping in the desert are adventures I still talk about. And the wonderful mural for peace we all painted. The school's campus was also another world for me. A place to imagine that I was an adventurer, a princess, or simply a place to reflect. I wish to find some of my classmates online so I am going to create a network on facebook and see who joins. Thanks for this blog.
Hello Everyone
David: We used to car pool together. Sometimes we car pooled with the Myers family. I have often wondered about you and Larry. I am glad to hear from you. We are truly blessed to have had the PA experience. My teachers were John, Alice and Luanne Oberholtzer for drama. We girls spent time dancing, cooking and sewing with Shiyo & Beulah in the green house. I can't remember the orchestra teacher’s name. Do you remember the name of the attorney? I guess we learned social studies with her. We stayed at her ranch in Santa Barbara. My other friends were Karen Amato, Kari Johnson and Barry Meikle. I hope they check this site.
Peace
Janet Davis (Tenaj)
I attended P.A. from 1953 to 1960. May was my 1st and 2nd grade teacher. 3rd grade was Mario Dejesu (along with Dina and Al Weiss and Foy Van Dolson) and 5th grade (I never had 4th) was Chloe Wynans. 6th was, of course, John Way. I carry tremendous affection for the school and am still in touch with the Zorthians and Trissia Baughman after all these years. The Zorthians own a wonderful winery in the San Joaquin valley called Buttonwood. - Catherine "Kitty" Anderson
I went to Pacific Ackworth from 1973 to 1977. I remember John and Alice Way. I have many fond memories of PA. I loved to play soccer on the schools giant field. I had May as my kindergarten through 2nd grade teacher. I remember that she had a 4 door Volvo (I think it was tan color). I had Judy as my teacher in the third grade. I really enjoyed her class. I remember that she would read stories to us. The one that I remember was Charlotte's Web. I, also remember doing some type of track and field events at the end of the school year. All in all, I really enjoyed PA. It was a great place to learn.
Barry Meikle checking in. John Astrin & I keep in touch and see each other every 3 years or so. I've seen Sloggy as well and went to a wedding with the Manners in the Pasadena home overlooking the arroyo. VERY COOL ! My e-mail is
cowboybarry1@gmail.com
I want to hear from my old friends, please! Janet Davis and Davis Isreal ! I can't wait to talk to you! 310-783-0841 Call Barry!
I have to add to my story. PA was the best thing that ever happened to our family. We joined when I came out of the hospital with disabilities. Most people at PA accepted me with not too many funnies. The trips we went on I'll never forget, nor the songs we sang. Like this one"Got drunk last nite like I never got drunk before" etc. Great times and people I still see. What a ride it was. Reunion? I'm all for it. I have some names and #'s. Contact me please if we went at the same time.
Wow- what a trip to see the comments from ex-P.A. "kids". I went there from K-8th grade (graduated 8th in 1968 I think!). Hi to Kitty Anderson- I believe I remember your very red hair! I too have great memories of P.A. especially the "Big Trips" we took, to Mexico, Arizona (Indian reservations), northern CA; hell we went all over the place! I missed the big reunion a few years ago in Laguna Beach, but I'd sure like to attend one if anyone ever puts on together. And if anybody wants to email me my address is rwalker@hillsides.org Would love to hear from people! Renee (Bellemeur) Walker
I(Conan Riojas) went to PA from 80-82 ? and the school had a profound impact on my life (my brother Gabe Riojas went there also). I was such a lost boy who was not quiet ready for a structured learning environment. PA was so very patient and allowed me to learn at my own pace and taught me to listen to that spontaneous, inner voice that we so easily ignore as adults. Good times, great memories, and wonderful friends - capture the flat on the back field, the tree house/fort, countless light sabers I made in wood shop, four square dancing, riding our bikes around the path, black widow spiders around the the geodesic building, max sitting on the file cabinet for his seat, journaling and drawing, the teacher who had a breakdown in our classroom and ran off crying and then later learned that she went off to Central America or something, amazing homemade lunches, The nurse who tended to my wounds after I crashed my bike in an attempt to jump a dirt pile, discovering the sensation of sugar cubes melting in my mouth, painting the buildings during service projects, field trips to the library, the girls who all had cruses on Michael Jackson, and many more memories.
Thank you grandma Emma for having the wisdom to send me there, and I only hope I can do the same for my children...
Yup, I'm another one -- I loved that school. Lou, John, Alice... many names I forget too. But not Maya! We used to play together, and the dance stage was a big hit for all of us in the late 70's as we tried out our moves from Saturday Night Fever and Grease. It probably wasn't possible to appreciate what a special environment that was at 8-11 years old. Anyway, just shouting out with appreciation and fellowship!
- Eric Hardman
i went there from '70-72, was in chloe winans class, and john way's group. mamzing memories. the 1 week trip to the bay area with chloe in her vw bus, and then when i hit the upper group with john way in kidney bean (towing a trailer) and the forest service international truk (dont remember the name) and i also remember sputnik, the model A tractor that occasionally got brought out as well as john's model A&T's. i also remember lu kuboshima, who lived behind the school and and the saunders family who lived on the grounds.
Re, this first post by Jack Taylor. . .Bruce and I sent our kids to PA but never lived there. You may be thinking of Paul Haywood and Helen who had a daughter Maya.
Hi Friends
there is a facebook group started for us, love to hear how we all grew up.
I was at PA for only a couple years '68-69 ish but it was great.
y family did the back to the land thing moving way up to Humboldt county.
PEACE
Aly Krause
The first comment mentions Bruce Nauman. It was Paul and Helen Hayward and their daughter Maya who lived on the premises. Paul was a sculptor. There was a funny story about Maya going to class and announcing that there was a body in their living room. After much questioning the teacher figured out it was a sculpture her father was working on. Bruce is my dad and while we didn't live there I did go to PA from 4-6th grades. That was years 75-77 or so.
Hello PA Alumni. My name is Kelley Richetts (Kellene Richetts-Nguyen). I went to PA from 1962-71 along with my 5 sibblings I remember Ellen Gordon, David Isreal. I Loved that school!! It formed my moral foundation. The last PA reunion I attended was about 16 years ago. The Meyerhoffs were hosting it at Laguna Beach. Saw lots of friends that I knew there, but have not seen them since. Recently did a search for Lena Weidman who attended PA the same time I did. Did not find her but found her Dad's website (www.weidmansart.com). He was and still is an artist that does awseome posters. Have not been able to reach him yet.
I loved the fairs, the trips and Chloe Winans was my favorite teacher. Lou ( cant remember the spelling of the last name) was the Japanese woman who lived behind the school. I remember who teaching us how to make some Japanese dishes. So glad I found this page. There is PA alumni group on FaceBook. Did a search there for David Isreal and emailed him. If anyone knows the whereabouts of the Meyerhoffs or the Sarnoffs..Please let me know.
email me at krnbeads.@yahoo.com
Kellene (Kelley) Richetts-Nguyen
Oh I forgot to say, Hi, Janet Davis!!..How are your sibblings Sheila and Barney doing??? Remember your love for dance and was even in a high school performance of West Side Story at John Muir High School, with you ( I played * Anybodys)
Kellene ( Kelley) Richetts-Nguyen
1968-1971 P.A. made me who I am.
I was a very shy and self-conscious 13 year old when I came to P.A.
People there helped me to overcome my shyness.They made me feel excepted just as I was.
P.A. was the place where I felt free to be myself and in doing that I learned to make friend's. Thank-you everyone.
I do think of you David and you are in the place I imagined you'd be. Love Della
How wonderful to see these posts. Brings back memories. Not sure why I thought to Google PA today, had not thought about it in awhile. My brother and I attended in the mid 60's and loved it! My mom found my report card and gave it to me a few years back. Very thoughtful notes from the teacher which gave me such a portrait of myself as a kid!
Hi all! Alison Lara :-) (alllyooop a t y a h o o)
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